Friday, July 30, 2010

Currently Reading: Finished One Fifth Avenue and am now on Sophia Kinsella's Twenties Girl. I also finally finished Barb's Questing, and I think I've discovered my dissatisfaction with this book: I kept looking for a scene which I didn't find! Maybe once I find the correct book with that scene and read it, I'll be able to appreciate Questing a little better?I did enjoy the method she used to get her characters back together in the end!I'm now up to Ch 5 in Kentucky Woman by Amber Carleton.

Seriously....they voted off they guy who did most of the chores the past three weeks? Ah Andrew...you'll never be another Dr. Will, who told everyone to vote him out because he was coming after them....and let this be a lesson to the rest of the group: Do. Not. Rant. During. Final. Comments! It didn't work for Annie; it didn't work for Andrew. Yes, Kathy has the 'sympathy' vote at the moment, but I would have like to see Andrew go farther in the game. And I really hope Matt gets to be the new saboteur!

Looking forward to next week's Warehouse 13 and Eureka: Crossover time! This will be hilarious when Claudia and Fargo visit each other:)

What's on Tap For Today?Hopefully staying awake. I was sluggish yesterday, due to a reaction to Benadryl, and slept about twelve hours. To make it up to the family, I fixed a killer beef roast last night. There were no leftovers. Proof I can slack off and still manage to put a fantastic meal on the table:)

Looking Ahead...Another Farmer's Market tomorrow, and my mom's birthday on Sunday. Where did July go? I have to register S and W for school next week; Watermelon Festival on the 7th; moving my oldest into his college dorm on the 15th. When did time start speeding up?

3. There are 20 RBRU Bloggers' Websites/Blogs listed on the right sidebar at the blog. Click on each one.

Send a list of 20 authors' names and one book title for each one to: contests.rbrus@gmail.com. If an author has two pen names, you only need to click on one. You'll need a total of 20 author names and 20 book titles. Contest ends midnight ET 31 July. Sorry, we only ship prizes to US and Canadian residents. Others may receive an emailed gift card/certificate. Winners announced on our Yahoo group and blog during the first week in August.

Road Trip!I'm off to Robinson, Ill today with my crit group:) We're going to meet the owner of a bookstore who is also an author and looking for a writer's group to join.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Hi, I’m a multi-pubbed author, now working on my eighteenth book. My romantic paranormals are with Cerridwen Press , and they just released no. four in Mage series. I also just had a great historical just released by RedRosePublishing. Love this one to pieces.

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?

Yes, but it hasn’t been placed yet. It’s called For Love and I are New, another long historical but the beginning is so dark I think I have to rewrite it a little.

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?

I think any writer does that unconsciously all the time. Can’t pin an instance down though.

How much research do you do?Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?

I do tons of research. And I do it first, needing to get the general feel for the book in my head before I start. Of course all through another point will come up that calls for more research, but basically I do it before starting to write. Just like I do a character sketch for each main character before I start. I need about six weeks thinking and researching before I put a word down.

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?

Love makes everything possible.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

I’m a little of both. Generally do a chapter outline with the first few chapters well in mind, as well as the ending. But then the book itself tells me where to go next. Sometimes I have a meltdown though in the dreaded middle of the book, though. That can be rough to work out of, and once in a while a character will get bossy and lead me out of it.

How long did it take for you to be published?

Three years, or more.

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?

Be better prepared for doing a LOT of promo-ing. Get your website up and running.

Laptop or pen and ink?What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?

I do notes in the car or at night when I wake up, rather cryptic but on paper. Basic writing is all done on computer. My handwriting is so bad there’s no way I do it all my pen. Nobody in the world could read it, not even me.

Who are your favorite authors?Who would you say influenced you the most?

Mary Balogh, Jennifer Cruisie, Linda Needham, Jennifer Blake.Mary Balogh with her wonderful insights into her characters has inspired me with awe and envy.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Probably that I’ve fought all my life to overcome shyness. Promo is hard, hard, hard for me.

For Fun:

Favorite Fourth of July tradition?

Watching the Capitol Fourth fireworks on telly.

Mountains or Beach?

Can’t pick. Love them both

Favorite amusement park ride?

None, really. I don’t do well with crowds.

Any Summer Festivals you like to attend?

Used to adore the Berkshire Music Festival, but now it’s too far from my home in California. Now there’s good Pop concerts down in Mission Bay here in San Diego.

If you’re writing a Christmas-themed story, how do you get ‘in the mood’?

Gosh, can’t answer that either. Never did a Christmas themed story. Since I adore Xmas though shouldn’t think it would be hard.

Thank you for being here today!Please tell us where we can find your books.

Thanks for asking. E-books are at Cerridwen Press and Red Rose Publishing. Print books are at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and lot of other sources on the net. Just Google my name.

The Third Rose by Jean Hart StewartAvailable now at Red Rose PublishingBlurb:Sara accosts Lord Wolverton in his bedroom late at night with the intent to shooting him in the groin so he’d never again rape an innocent girl. Fortunately Wolf overpowers her, since she finds he is not the villain she seeks. They embark together on a hunt to find the real rapist. Then the spy Wolf is also seeking turns his vengeance on Sara. Wolf needs her help to decode a cryptic message about ‘the third rose’ and track down the spy. He fears for her safety and yet knows he needs her help.

The spy hunt turns desperate and Sara and Wolf find themselves hurrying to Brussels to join Wellington and save the General’s life. Matters come to a head at the Battle of Waterloo, with both Sara and Wolf proving their courage and their love. But will even extraordinary love and courage be enough to save them both?

Excerpt:

London, May, 1815

Was the blasted rotter ever going to come home? She didn’t want him arriving so intoxicated he wouldn’t realize why she was shooting him.

Sara peered from behind her hiding place as she heard someone enter. Another servant! Not the depraved Earl. At least not yet. There’d been no activity since a housemaid entered the room and turned down the bed linens.A long time ago and Sara’s stiffness was beginning to worry her.

The servant checked the level of wine in the decanter by the bed, then turned away. Sara’s vision wasn’t the best as she peered through the slit where the draperies almost met. At least she could focus on the main point of interest. The bed. Presumably when my Lord Wolverton finally came home he’d make for that overlarge, comfortable appearing bed.

Sara shifted her position slightly. She’d not realized standing so long could be so tiring. Or that heavy drapes would be so stifling. She flexed the fingers on each hand, working her muscles and passing the gun from one hand to the other.She was an equally good marksman with either. Or should she say markswoman? At least her irresponsible father taught her well in this respect.

She sobered immediately. Blast and damn to her wandering thoughts. She must concentrate on her mission. To maim, and perhaps kill, a man known to his friends as Wolf. To make sure he never raped again.

She heard a click as the door handle turned.

At last. The bastard had come home. He must have lit more candles, as the room became brighter. She could see a large man, elegantly dressed, stride across the room. Double drat! He moved out of her vision, and she did not dare part the draperies any further. She waited, breath suspended, as he re-appeared and sat on the bed. He arched one long muscled leg, bending over to tug at his boot. His face was in shadow, but his build was powerful, that of a more than adequate sportsman. His size didn’t worry her. A gun was a great equalizer.

He meant to take his boots off himself? She was surprised he didn’t require his valet to wait up for him. An unusual bit of consideration for a servant, one she’d not expected. She’d thought she’d have to stay hidden until the valet had come and gone. Perhaps this was better, since at least he was decently clothed. Not that she’d let any missish tendencies deter her. Actually seeing a large nude male might be educational.

Now was the time.

She cocked the gun and stepped out in front of him, the barrel pointed directly at him.

“You will please rise, my lord. I don’t intend to shoot a seated villain.” She felt pride in the composure of her voice. She’d worried a little about that.

Wolverton did not appear unduly upset, although his eyebrows arched upward. He bent the long leg stretched on the bed and clasped both hands around his knee.

“A woman. How interesting. I admit you make a very fetching young man dressed in those breeches, but your voice is definitely female. Might I inquire why you have your gun pointed at me?”

She had to give him his due. His tone seemed as cool as hers, and she certainly must have been a nasty surprise. Although come to think of it, he probably often found women accosting him in his bedchamber. But surely for more pleasurable purposes, cad that he was.

“Stand up, my lord.”

Neither her voice nor the hand holding the gun on him wavered, as Joshua Sinclair, Earl of Wolverton, slowly placed both his boots on the luxurious Aubusson carpet and rose to his feet.

“Is there anything I can do for you, madam?” he inquired, as politely as if he were asking her if she took milk with her tea.

She shook her head slowly, carefully lowering the gun a trifle. What a shame he was such a handsome devil, but then she should have expected no less from a despoiler of virgins.

She was pleased to see him blanch a little as he realized where she aimed.

“Can I persuade you to raise your gun a little? I don’t mind being shot in the chest nearly as much as if you hit the most valued part of my anatomy.”

Again she gave him credit. He seemed remarkably self- possessed; no pleading, no ranting, just civilized conversation. As if they were at a blasted tea.

“I am aiming precisely where I wish to aim, my lord. And I’m a good shot. You will ruin no more girls like Samantha.”

Monday, July 26, 2010

Currently Reading: Finished The White Queen over the weekend and began Candice Bushnell's One Fifth Avenue. One thing I noticed right away; Candice head-hops. Normally this wouldn't bother me, but with all the e-books I've been reading, and trying to follow the 'new rules' in my own work, this surprised me when I noticed it.

E-Book: Still reading Kentucky Woman and Barb's Questing. I decided to go back to where I caught myself skimming a read more thoroughly.

It's been a crazy three weeks around here, but things are starting to 'normalize' again....if there is such a thing! One of the things I've been doing lately is getting up early to watch my shows on DVR.

Warehouse 13: OMG! This show just gets better and better. I was concerned immediately when, in the first episode, the 'evil guy' from last season was killed off, but the twists and plots have kept me intrigued.

Deadliest Catch and After The Catch: Yes, I cried buckets last week, watching the Tribute to Captain Phil, and the finale is tomorrow night. Yesterday, I was able to DVR an 'ATC' I missed earlier, so will watch it, plus 'Best of Season 6' that I think I missed, later this week.

Big Brother: I was astounded when BB announced they would reveal the sabbateur so early...and then I thought, 'Unless he/she is about to be evicted...' and I was right. Rachel and Brenden are about to make me throw up if one or both don't get evicted soon. I can't stand Rachel's laugh or her attitude. If you're going to have a 'showmance', conduct yourselves like adults, rather than seventh-graders with their first crush? I like Hayden and Kristen.

I was also mildly appalled when Monet was voted out. I would have preferred Brittany (if she had been on the block), because earlier, Julie Chen had said she was the spoiled, entitled, brat of the group. We really didn't get to see that in the two weeks she was on. I AM enjoying watching how Matt's mind works; let's see if his plan to back-door Rachel or Brenden works this week. Hopefully, he'll take Rachel out.

Eureka: I LOVE this season's plot twist! Although....last Friday's episode, I figured out early on what triggered the 'rage' of the citizens. And I hope they bring back the banter between Sheriff Carter and his smart house SARAH. I miss that interaction!

Next Food Network Star: Yay...Brianna left last week!!! And I fear my early favorite, Aria, isn't far behind. I like Artie and Brad, and also Serena, if she can conquer her speech issues. She has such a heavy accent and talks as if she's in a word race with The Chipmunks.

Today on the To-Do List:-Laundry-Take clothing to donation center-Drop off disability paperwork-Call the Area Council on Aging: We received a bill, after being notified three weeks ago we had a credit on the nursing home account. Is this a ploy or is it legitimate? My SIL thinks it's a ploy.

-Hope and pray that whatever the doctor puts my SU on next, it kills his rash/breakouts. Since April, his skin has broken out with an itchy rash. He finished a round of steroids on Saturday, and was unable to sleep last night due to the itching and three new breakouts. We determined he was allergic to his new blood pressure meds, and his cardiologist switched him to a new one. He's refused to take it until the rash goes away, but it's gotten worse. What started as a simple case of athlete's foot has now spread to his shoulders, and is getting angrier with the end of each treatment. Oral meds slow the itch; baking soda baths help. Prednizone slowed the rate of the rash, but it returned with a vengeance. Then we thought maybe it was tied to his stress level.

And what has changed since April? The roof leaked...landlord fixed it at the end of May....another leak is slowly forming over the door...this heat wave....his mother passing....and why haven't I caught it? Instead, our oldest son is suffering a milder form of the rash. So what the hell is going on?

On a lighter note, for a humorous look on How To Write a Novel in 30 Easy Steps, click here. How often does this ring true?

Friday, July 23, 2010

Currently Reading: Tried to read Barb Huffert's Questing, but soon lost interest. I've saved my place, though; I don't think the nursing home was the right place to try to read it. I enjoyed Chaos, and since it picks up right after Questing, now I'm eager to return to the first one.I also finished Nicole Morgan's Sudden Devotion and while I found the heroine's lack of confidence a turn-off at first, I DID enjoy the story and found it hard to put down. I started Amber Carleton's Kentucky Woman and am on the second or third chapter.

Print book: I'm more than halfway through Phillipa Gregory's The White Queen. I enjoyed this story at first, but now it's getting tedious. Thankfully, the author differentiates between the characters with the same name, such as 'brother Richard' and 'son Richard'; otherwise, it would be hard to keep up with everyone. Since I loved The Other Boleyn Girl, I was looking forward to this one....but now I'm wondering if I'll even bother reading The Red Queen. Guess time will tell.

2000:My oldest son made the All-Star team in baseball, and did well. Since it was double elimination, I think they played three games. My SU was roped into being an umpire, and when he called one of our boys out, we thought the kid had made it safely to the base. I cracked up my friends when I muttered, 'A rope, a tree, hang the referee!'

Slow Down!In the middle of the Girls' Softball Tournament the following weekend, I received a serious lesson in what happens when a) you hit the ground running every day and b) you don't listen to that little voice in your head.

Mon July 10th:I'd stupidly volunteered to be a 'walker' for the Cub Scouts at Day Camp. My mind was not on the kids' activities; it rained; I nearly broke my ankle when we first arrived at the park by stepping in a hole; later, I fell flat on my face going down a small hill. I was mad at myself for taking on the job, and was looking forward to getting back to the ball field. At the end of the day, I hustled all five scouts into the van, told them to buckle up, and put the van in reverse.

At the turn off to our home, something told me to roll up the windows. But since I'm not a fan of a/c when I'm 'comfortable' (translation: Everyone else in the world is HOT), I left the windows down. Five minutes later, an insect landed on my leg as we were following a slow-poke truck going thirty mph. Yes, I was irritated.

I casually slapped at the insect, then brought my hand up to see what it was. A bee was now crawling across my palm, and in my haste to not get stung and to get it off my hand, I started blowing at it. Next thing I know, the kids are screaming; I've gone off the road and into a cornfield. No problem; I'll just turn the wheels back to the right and get us back on the road.

WHAM! We hit a tree. I put the van into park and look back to see if the kids are okay. The scout beside me in the passenger side is pulling the airbag from his face and one kid has his arm wrapped around the head rest of my seat. I order everyone out, and ignoring the pain in my knee, struggle out of the van and around to the passenger side.

People were already pulling the scouts from the van, and one took me by the arm and tried to get me to lie back. One scout was holding his shoulder and crying; another was holding his mouth; the only thing my son could say was "Mom...Mom...."

I did a head count; everyone was accounted for. A phone was brought; I looked at my watch and called home. No answer. I called a neighbor, and told her to flag down my SU when he went by her house. She told me to hang on; she'd already spotted him. I spoke to him; told him we'd been in an accident, and to please come get us. And after I hung up the phone, I felt faint.

I put my head between my knees, and didn't understand why hands kept pulling me back. I heard the sirens and knew ambulances were on the way. Since we had friends who worked for the ambulance service, I tried to cheer up my panicked eight-year-old by telling him we might see 'Uncle C' and 'Aunt K'. I looked up just as C hopped out of his ambulance, but instead of greeting me with a smile, he looked horrified. That's when I learned my forehead was split open all the way to the nose.

Three of us went to the hospital. The kid who had been in the front had bitten his tongue when the airbag deployed; I had hit the steering wheel as mine hadn't deployed. The child behind me who had NOT buckled his seat belt was okay; his buddy by the door had a broken collarbone from the shoulder harness. The two in back, who had also ignored the 'buckle up' command, were okay, although one was limping and the other had glass in his hair from hitting the window.

We made the paper the next day, and for several weeks later, I was known as 'The Bee Lady'. And I was also not happy, because the EMT's had to cut my favorite shirt from me, in case of a neck injury. I was fine; just a concussion and a banged up knee. Nothing broken; just nineteen stitches in my forehead.

Slowly Returning To 'Normal'The mountain of food is slowly disappearing; Mom's clothing has been sorted; today we drop off the donations in her name and figure out what to do with the flowers. My SU also has to get his butt over to the unemployment office, as another extension has been approved. I also finished his disability application yesterday afternoon, so we have to drop off paperwork at the local office. And tomorrow I go back to the Farmer's Market again. Wish me luck:) Apparently, some of the ladies who had come to the funeral had seen me last Saturday. At the bereavement dinner, one of Mom's dear friends came up and asked, 'Molly, are you an author or something?'

Thank you Molly for having me here! My name is Mahalia Levey. A good majority of people or ‘peeps’, as I call them address me as Hales, and it works! I began writing for publication just under a year ago. It’s been an insane process of learning the ins and outs of this craft turned profession. I wouldn’t trade a day of it though.

Merikano’s Fury is the first manuscript I ever wrote. I ended up putting it on hold to revamp it after taking self editing classes and learning some about GMC.

The story is centered on the heroine Krissy who is ready to leave small town living for the Big Apple to pursue her dreams and meet the family she’s not too fond of. The only problem is that what was safe in Dibble Oklahoma isn’t so safe in NYC.

For Safety reasons she’s put under surveillance by her boss and the handsome Shifter Dare. Battle of the wills ensues. Dare on the other hand is a player. Who takes nothing serious until he meets her and when he does the game of cat and mouse begins. The cheetah shifter will do whatever it takes to hold onto the wild and zany Krissy.Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?

Yes, really. I canned it. I wanted to see just how dark I could write. I achieved it and woke up a half demon/white angel from a long nap. I centered him around the Mayan Hell Realm and began a coven story. He was a nasty one. Sadistic, dark and into necrophilia. I honestly thought there was something wrong with me, but the people who read the short series of posts loved them. Not for publication though, necrophilia is on the no no list!

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?

No not yet. Some of the stories heroines and hero’s have a tad bit of my personality. I’ve used how I see the towns I grew up in. I did move from Kansas to New York and the difference is mind blowing. Lots of what Krissy saw in the day to day action was actually what I saw riding the Metro North. However I didn’t have a sexy beast bump into me ordered to protect me. Damn! I think some of my humor is also in this story.

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?

Research depends on what I’m researching. If I’m doing a specific time period, I’ll research everything in that culture and age from language to clothing and societal structure.Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?

I want them to look for the hidden message inside the story. To enjoy reading for the sake of reading and to take something profound with them that maybe my words brought to mind for them. I like to think a story is one huge three dimensional puzzles. The kind you order on line and they can take any shape or form. I enjoy bringing words together to form that three dimensional picture.Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

I’m a little of both. I begin with a beginning, middle and end. But I storyboard as they write themselves. By that I mean. I don’t write them they write themselves. I found that edging them my way proved disastrous  Anarchy in my brain via characters is not fun. I have post it notes everywhere, color coded incase I’m doing more than one story at a time. Sometimes it’s a thought other times really good dialogue I know I won’t remember!

How long did it take for you to be published?That’s hard to answer. I began playing on a writing yahoo loop forum in 2006. And I met one of my now editors on that loop two years ago. She challenged me to try publishing. I thought she was absolutely nuts. I had no formal training or technique. I love a challenge. I wrote Merikano’s Fury then but, I chose to write off of a submission calling at Phaze. I was rejected the first time with a revise and resubmit and pushed toward a crit group and some technique classes to hone basic skills. I rewrote and resubmitted a few months later and was accepted. I guess the answer would have to be around six months or so.

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?

Take notes on advise people give you and make a hard copy of lessons you’ve learned to save time in scrolling email after email 

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?

Laptop, post it notes. I copy edit and line edit by changing font and color.

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?

Blurb:Merikano ‘Dare’ Varadi has finally met his match. The cheetah shifter assigned to protect and serve, falls for Krissy Shuemaker, the boss’ client. Protecting her from herself seems futile, yet he’s determined to do what it takes.

Trading the comfort of home for the journey of self-discovery, Krissy is ready to follow her dreams on a new path.

When unexpected danger finds her, can the man who ignites feelings best left dead save her from herself. Or will his dark secret shatter any hope for a relationship preventing them from joining for eternity.

Excerpt:Dare followed at a distant pace, watching her move along the people crowding the paved walkway. He watched her flutter around with her fuzzy hood, taking pictures of any and everything. Damned crazy woman. He froze his gonads off while following her.

He picked up his cell and got the voicemail for the CEO. “You so owe me, you lucky bastard. Next time you wish a tail on someone, make it someone who uses a car and has enough sense to stay out of the elements instead of some quirky crazy chick that’s snapping pictures of people she doesn’t know.” He slammed his phone shut and weaved through the people. He couldn’t wait to catch up to her and grill her for her inept way of placing herself in danger.

His wish came true as she turned and boarded the A-Train. Finally, he shook his head. He had a way to confront her without causing a stir, a way to talk with her and not give away his position. Deryck and his damned ideas! He blew warm air on his hands and rubbed them together. For damn sure he’d be wearing a full-length leather trench tomorrow, provided he couldn’t sway her to stay indoors.

He leaned against a pole in the fifth car. The jam-packed car made it hard to move at this time of day. He watched through the glass, using his hawk’s eye, where she stood three cars up, her camera poised as she snapped pictures of the train’s occupants. He wondered when someone would take her camera and shove it up her ass. She’d been riding the same car all week, taking pictures of the same people. Of course, they could think that she was some freak stalker. He heaved his lean body off the stationary metal pole and walked, holding onto the hand straps as he went from train-car to train-car. He stopped in her car and just watched her watching others. “A watcher of people, not birds,” he whispered, a hairsbreadth from behind her.

Krissy turned around, mace out and ready. “Excuse me?”

“If you watch them or take any more pictures, they might mob you.” He then motioned to the annoyed faces and tense bodies of the train’s inhabitants.

Krissy looked at him and narrowed her eyes. “I know you…” She frowned, as if trying to place where she knew him.

“Dare,” he replied, trying to help her to remember.

“Ohh, you look different with clothes on.” She laughed out loud, oblivious to the questioning gazes of the fellow passengers whose attention was now riveted on the tall, dark man looming over the petite brunette who’d been invading their privacy.

“Do I now?” Dare laughed and then plucked a broken branch from the fur surrounding her face. “Warm enough there, Eskimo?”

Krissy laughed. “Well, you were in nothing but a sheet last time I saw you and then you dropped it.” She blushed.

“Was it so bad?” He couldn’t help but to egg her on.

“You’re the perfect image of the man my ma said to stay away from. You know, you and Truth had a lot of fun making fun of my innocence when you both double teamed me at the shoot.” She shook her head and moved a step away from him.

“We didn’t tag team you, per say. We just persuaded you to try and think of new things.”

Krissy choked. “I had on the most God awful ensemble for the shoot, Mr. Romance Novel model,” she pushed.

“Like you said, I’m every woman’s dream,” he quipped back.

“You’re ruining my project,” she replied with a frown.

“You’re project isn’t safe.” He couldn’t help but gaze into her eyes and take in her flushed face.

“It’s safe enough that I’m not harming anything.” She was becoming exasperated.

“Okay, tell me that running in Central Park or going through Battery Park at dusk is a safe thing for a lone female to do?”

“Spying on me, Dare?” She raised a brow, the mace container still primed and aimed for his face. She smirked, obviously certain he couldn’t see her little device in the palm of her gloved hand.

Dare’s reflexes were quick—lightning quick, to be exact. He took her off balance and pulled her small body against his lean one. Her back hit his chest as his arms wrapped around her wrist. Krissy turned inward to break his hold, but encountered his thighs, preventing her from moving, the steel pole and seats preventing her from going elsewhere. The occupants seemed to be enjoying her folly. She stepped on the instep of his foot and jabbed back with her elbow, encountering rock hard abs.

“Okay,” she grumbled.

Dare didn’t fall for her mechanisms. As he let her loose, he gripped the hold on her wrist so that the tube cylinder would roll out onto the floor. He caught it with the instep of his boot and launched it upward into his palm before handing it back to her. “You don’t need to be spied on. You do the most insane things that are apparent. If you want to live long, then blend in. If you don’t, then keep doing what you are doing and you’ll end up raped and mutilated before you can say help,” he enunciated.

“I have mace,” she said.

“That would be the same mace I just disarmed you with. In a public setting full of people,” he vocalized. “Mace won’t help you against beasts of the night, sweetheart.”

“Quit following me. What are you, a stalker?” she shrieked and gathered her things closer to her.

Dare looked at her. “Look, I’m not stalking you, Krissy. I just have been in the neighborhood and witnessed for myself the way you innocently place yourself in harm’s way.”

Krissy flushed red with annoyance. “I’m not changing my schedule for a what if. The chances of someone attacking me are zilch. I’m perfectly safe with my own safety devices and besides, I know self-defense.” She crossed her arms in defiance.

“Suit yourself, sweetheart. Just don’t get mad when I say I told you so.” He tapped his finger on the tip of her nose and jaunted past her to make his way out of the subway. They were a block away from her apartment building—a building he’d moved into recently.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Hi, I’m Mia Watts. Is it sad that I have to look at my list of books to figure out which one is my latest release? Geez. I’ve been pushing it a little crazy lately, but let’s see… Reasonable Doubt (TotalEBound) is the newbie, looks like.

RD can stand alone, but I recommend it be read after Bad Boys, Bad Boys (TEB). It finds the Boys in Blue a year after they began their relationship. In the first book, both men were gay-for-you and otherwise straight. OF COURSE I had to throw in an old girlfriend for book two. I mean, how are you gonna know they can stick together through thick *ahem* and thin if you never see them struggle with their past relationships to know this one is different, right?

Geo and Mack are hot and heavy—as Alpha men are—but we get to see inside the workings of their relationship. So far, I have a lot of fantastic reviews on this one. I hadn’t intended to write a book two for these boys, but the fan mail after the first book was unreal. I had to listen to the readers. I’m so glad I did!

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?

Yes. Although last I checked, I wasn’t a gay man. Or a man at all, actually. LOL. I’d have to say the m/f book Faerily Surprising was pretty close to home. I’m a lot like that heroine, trying to take on everything and not letting people know when I’m falling apart on the inside (that sounds so sensitive and progressive *sniff*).

And to be completely frank, every single one of my heroes (gay or straight) totally turns my crank to overdrive. They are exactly the kind of men I find irresistible (take notes, boys).

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?

Scared, ARHGH, the boogyman? Or scared, WTF did I just take on? Or, scared, OMG this says way too much about my inner-workings-of-head-damagez? Yup to all.

Claimed by Darkness (Ellora’s Cave) and Bad Boys (TEB) freaked me out because they were my first m/m works. TRUST ME it was a new challenge I’d never thought of taking on before. But then Carol Lynne, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, and Helen Woodall happened, with a soupcon of Anny Cook thrown in for good measure. They dared me. I’m a sucker for a dare (see the 2k writing challenge I took at Krisngoodbooks(dot)blogspot and you’ll understand).

The OMGiCANTbelieveItookTHISon! happened under another pen name. I won’t get into that, but I also outgrew the fear and I was a newbabygirl writer

Themindofmia book, as I said above, was Faerily Surprising. That was a scary story because I wrote it at a particularly vulnerable time when my relationship with someone was on the downward fritz. I realized how much of myself I had been hiding from him, how much he didn’t know. In my purging effort of self-awareness insanity, I imagined what it would be like if I were with a man who stripped all that away and saw me for who I really am, forced me to acknowledge that he saw it, and loved me anyway. It’s terrifying, heady, sexy as hell, and still makes my insides jell-o with that kind of raw fear.

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?

A-freakin’-lot! I write first and research as I go along. You have to be careful though, because you can get lost in research. I spent an entire day, ANENTIREDAY, on scissors. I spent a week on architecture. *headslap* I got way too involved. Sometimes you can over-research and because you did it, you want it in the book. That can get confusing to the reader. I need to know all the pieces, but the reader doesn’t.

For example, right now, I’m doing Ride-Alongs with my local PD. It’s fascinating, but I’m pretty sure I’m not going to use the recent report and assault charges of a man biting his girl’s booty in a book. I have the research and the info on the follow-up, but the vision of blackened booty is lodged in my mind for an eternity!

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?

Pantser, and yes. It happens all the time. I might THINK I know where a story is going, but sometimes the characters redirect me. Happened with Reasonable Doubt for sure. Hell, it happened with… uh, every book I’ve ever written so far.

How long did it take for you to be published?

Trick question. I mentioned previous pen names. This pen name had zero waiting time. I wrote the book and there was a contract ready to go, but that was because I’d already established myself with a few publishers. My editors already knew my work. They believed in the new name as much as the former ones.

Before that, I wrote a book SLOWLY for four years. When it was done, I was afraid to sub it. That took me another year. Then I subbed it and NY took two years to reject it. I got their rejection two weeks after my first book was accepted by an ePub. I’d sent it to them less than a month earlier. I haven’t looked back since.

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?

Get over yourself. You see, writing a book for the first few times is like seeing a brand new male OBGYN every time you go for a check up. Hang in here with me for a sec…

Your OBGYN has seen THOUSANDS of vaginas. Going to a new one isn’t the beginning of a “relationship” with the male OBGYN, it’s just a health assessment. He’s seen THOUSANDS, but not yours. Now, it’s not going to faze him one bit to see your pink girlie parts (your manuscript in all its glory), but for you, it could be traumatic (will he like my vi-jay-jay/manuscript?). Especially if he’s hot (ie/a publisher you really want to get into bed with *wink*).

You just gotta get over it. Rip your pants off and say, “Hey publishing world, look at my girlie parts!!! What do you think?” *ahem* Or, um, something…

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?

Both. I laptop it most of the time, but I have notebooks for when I need a new setting and some space. Sometimes I take myself out to lunch with my notebook and pen. Of course, giggling to myself as I scribble madly tends to garner the occasional odd looks.

….I wonder why that is…..?

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?

I have a lot of influencers for a lot of different reasons. Molly, you influenced me because you were my first persistent fan, which is wayyyyy cool. (Awwww....that's sweet of you to say! Molly blushes and smiles) The above authors who made me write m/m are influencers because I never would have stepped out of my comfort zone to try it without them.

Sunny Cole, I met once, and think about all the time… she influenced me because she spoke to me on a deeper level, akin to knitting the broken pieces at a time when I really needed to feel strong. Regina Carlyle, one of the NICEST women on the planet. She genuinely wants to see people succeed and is vocally in favor of YOU.

Julia Rachel Barrett is my recent champion. She’s a momma-bear/sex-kitteny/chewy morsel of yummy goodness with a wit that never ends. I love how she thinks.

Kris Norris is a sweetheart cheerleader who mistakenly thinks I have a sexy voice (at which point I will quietly point out that she thinks ALL Americans have sexy voices)…. There are just so many! It becomes a who’s-who list after a while.

Perhaps the person I am the biggest fan-girl of is Bronwyn Green. I love that woman. She is my soul-sister, best friend, the g-string in my ass of wonder-hood (Yes, I went there), the J in my PJs, the awesome sauce on my apples, the lift to my drooping bosom of life who influences me on a daily basis. She is pretty awesome! I can hardly wait to meet her someday!

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?

Probably just about anything I let loose with. I’m fairly open but I keep a lot close to the cuff. I’m not about to spill the beans here. ;)

For Fun:Favorite Fourth of July tradition?

Don’t have one. Until last year, I have truly hated fireworks.

Mountains or Beach?Can I have both? A private white-sand beach tucked in the smoky blue peaks of a mountain top get-away, where I’m the only femme in a resort of sexy men who want nothing more than to serv(e/ice) me.

Favorite amusement park ride?

I’m a roller coaster girl. I like rides that flip and drop and zoom, even if they do it backward all over again.

Any Summer Festivals you like to attend?

The Festival of Swimming. If that exists.

If you’re writing a Christmas-themed story, how do you get ‘in the mood’?

Generally speaking, I’m not a fan of holiday theme stories. I’ve written them, but I always feel it’s forced. I think I’m answer-less for this one.

Thank you for being here today! Please tell us where we can find your books.

Geo and Mack have faced a lot of problems, but when the problem is within their relationship, will Mack come clean and claim his man, or lose him to an old flame?

Geo Wilson's feelings for his partner Mack Sullivan run deep. But formerly straight Mack grows distant when Geo's old flame, a former female detective gone FBI, comes to town to take over the lead on their case. Geo makes no effort to discourage the woman, and Mack wonders if he missed the break up memo.

Geo's apparent rejection hurts and Mack begins to have reasonable doubts about where they stand.

For Mack, taking the next step is a huge risk and one Geo has never taken before. Geo's friendliness with the former girlfriend could be a sign of changing affection. It wouldn't be the first time Geo has left a broken heart in his wake and Mack's beginning to wonder if he's just become another notch in Geo's belt. All that's left now is the case and as it comes to a close, will Mack and Geo catch the killer only to lose each other?

Excerpt:“No fucking way! No fucking way!” Geo Wilson laughed, holding his arms open as he walked away from Mack.

Mack Sullivan shared his grin, although he figured his version had a touch of curiosity to it. What the fuck was Geo on about? He turned, his eyes following the fluid stride of his lover as he moved towards a woman. Geo’s larger frame partially obscured her. Mack’s gaze stayed on Geo, the Dunne case file in his hands completely forgotten.

“Lauren. Holy shit. What are you doing here?” Geo asked, excitement and pleasure vibrating in his low husky tones. The same sexy tone Geo used on Mack when he was pleased…or about to get pleased.

Lauren? The spiralling red curls crushed on Geo’s shoulder as he hugged her, the long sleek creamy legs beautifully tipped by four-inch heels sent Mack’s stomach into a painful spiral of dread. Lauren Stratton.

Geo held her away, looking down into her upturned face like it held precious jewels. Jealousy left bitter bile in Mack’s throat.

“Look at you. Woman, you look amazing. Obviously being a Fed agrees with you. C’mon.” Geo took her under his arm and headed back towards him. “Mack, look who that cat dragged in.”

“Yay,” Mack replied flatly.

“Sully, you’re as hunky and as outspoken as ever,” she snarked.

He fucking hated it when she called him Sully. She knew it, too.

“What brings you to Maple Grove P.D.?” Geo asked, still oblivious to her subtle slam on his partner.

“That, actually.” She snatched the file out of Mack’s hands. “The little girl was taken after her correspondence with someone on the Internet. That makes it mine.”

“Suspected correspondence. No proof,” Mack said.

“Aw, you still have that sulky pout. That’s a sexy look for you, detective,” she said, lifting a finger to nudge his bottom lip.

Mack swatted her hand away.

“It’s sexy, isn’t it Geo?” she asked.

“Damn sexy,” he agreed, a slow smile pulling his lips into a kissable grin.

Mack nearly smiled with him, but someone might notice and they weren’t out yet as a couple.

Lauren’s gaze sharpened. She looked from one man to the other. Mack looked at the file as though he could read through the manila coloured card stock.

“What?” she asked, suspiciously.

Mack looked up at her, cocked a brow with disinterest. “You’ve got my file. I want it back.”

“No, not that. The other thing,” she said, now turning her attention to Geo.

Geo shook his head as though he didn’t understand her curiosity either.

“The look you just gave Sully. What’s that about? That’s not a typical look, that’s the look you used to give me when you wanted to haul me into the sack.” Her eyes widened, her mouth opened.

Geo discreetly lifted his hand off her shoulder and cupped it over her gaped mouth. “Hush now, baby. What you think you know, no one else does. Keep it to yourself. Got it?”

She nodded. Shock registered in her eyes, and Mack felt his chest swell with pride for his man, smugness at besting Lauren Stratton.

Just as casually as he’d done it, Geo lowered his hand from her face. His expression was warm and companionable. He didn’t seem affected by Lauren’s return. But Mack knew from experience that Geo was good at hiding his true feelings.

What was he feeling now, his arm around his old flame?

Anyone who’d been around the station for the past five years knew about Lauren and Geo. They’d been a hot item until she’d left him for the FBI. No warning. No Dear John letter. Nothing. She’d packed a suitcase and took off the next day. The bitch of it had been that she’d known she’d passed the testing and interviews for the position in the district office. She’d known and she’d still neglected to tell Geo she was leaving him.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Today I'm guest blogging over at Romance Books R Us. Come on over and see the story behind the story:)

Secondly, the wonderful and somewhat zany Mia Watts will be here tomorrow while I'm at my MIL's funeral, so be nice to her?

Today's schedule is packed. I have to....-Return the Mass workbook to Fr. Dave (We had to pick out the readings and assign readers, Gift Bearers, someone to read the Prayers of the Faithful, and select up to four hymns.)

-Go back to the nursing home and get the TV, plus talk to the administrative office to see if Mom's jewelry is in the vault. I cannot find her wedding rings. I remember her giving them to me when she was in the hospital, but I'm 95% certain I returned them to her last year. And yes, I've looked everywhere I can possibly think of around our house. (Prayers for this, please...I'm going to have many angry family members if they cannot be found!)

-Walmart for laundry detergent and coffee creamer. Relatives have flooded our house with food; I've not had to cook since Thursday! But the kids continue to work, and no one's stepped forward to help with laundry, so yup...Mom's on it daily.

-Vacuum the living room

-Do the dishes from yesterday

-Make a hotel reservation for my parents, who will be arriving around 3pm

-Decide what the hell I'm going to wear to the wake tonight from 4-8pm

-I DO know what I'm wearing tomorrow to the funeral Mass at 10am.

-Console a grieving husband.

And there's already been some minor stress over the obituary, of all things. If left to an aunt, my SIL would have been left out entirely. I brought up her name; the aunt rolled her eyes, but deferred to my SU's judgment. So she's named as daughter. But while our kids were mentioned, hers were not; nor were the five 'great-grandchildren'. I received an email asking why the eight names had been left out. I responded politely; SU told me to get the person on the phone, where he proceeded to explain his reasons.

When his dad passed in 2000, there were about seven other people mentioned as 'sons and daughters'. People who knew my hubby was an only child kept asking us about the others. This time around, my SU is in NO mood to explain the informal 'adopting' of everyone. And quite frankly, I'm surprised I was even mentioned. My only 'complaint' about the whole thing was my daughter's name was misspelled.

I don't think I was mentioned when my grandmother passed in 1995, so why the uproar over this? I hope there aren't any bad feelings after this is over.

Anyway, I'll be back on Wednesday. Again, welcome Mia tomorrow with open arms and I'll pop in later. Also, play nicely while I'm gone.

Friday, July 16, 2010

The Idiot and I were at a standstill. On one hand, I had moved him out of my apartment and when I retrieved my key, he was furious. On the other hand, one of my neighbors had a somewhat attractive relative visiting, so I tried to put The Idiot out of my mind with the visitor's attentions.

The Fourth of July, I went to my aunt's house and had a good afternoon with my family. When I returned home, a friend begged me to go with her to the concert and see the fireworks in Cicero. That was better than sitting around waiting for my neighbors to return, or even taking a chance The Idiot would try to attempt another reconciling. Enjoyed it, but when we arrived home, the REAL fireworks began.

Idiot was still angry about the fact I'd taken my key back, and it didn't help when my neighbors arrived and my new friend tried to defend me. We convinced Idiot to leave, and J took me to the local bar to let off some steam. Two days later, I said goodbye to him and went on with my life. I had no idea this was to be a turning point.

In Case You Missed It:

MIL passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon. Today we meet with the funeral director and making arrangements. Thank you soooooo much for the cyber hugs! I probably won't be back again until Mia's Terrific Tuesday Interview, so play nicely while I'm gone.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Captain Phil Harris and I share a birthday! Watched his final episode a few minutes ago (and yes, shed a few tears!) and at the end, they posted Dec 19, 1956-Feb 9, 2010. Wow...he was nine when I was born. Amazing. RIP Captain Phil. I never met you, but I feel as if I've been a part of your family for two years or more.

Good news to share!

Kenzie's Wild At Heart has been offered a contract with XOXO Publishing:)

3. There are 20 RBRU Bloggers' Websites/Blogs listed on the right sidebar at the blog. Click on each one.

Send a list of 20 authors' names and one book title for each one to: contests.rbrus@gmail.com. If an author has two pen names, you only need to click on one. You'll need a total of 20 author names and 20 book titles. Contest ends midnight ET 31 July. Sorry, we only ship prizes to US and Canadian residents. Others may receive an emailed gift card/certificate. Winners announced on our Yahoo group and blog during the first week in August.

Update On MIL:

She's steadily declining. Feedings have stopped; her body isn't absorbing it. The nurses are also going to discontinue her blood sugar tests. We're just keeping her comfortable until God calls her home.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

I’m Karenna Colcroft, and I’m a write-aholic. LOL. Seriously, I started writing at age five, and never really stopped, except for a brief break during my first marriage. I started writing erotic romance in 2006, and since January 2009, I’ve been offered 6 publishing contracts, as well as having 4 free shorts accepted by publishers. I live in the Northeast US with my two daughters and my husband. I’ve been with him for two years, but we’re newlyweds; our wedding was April 17 of this year.

My latest release is Eternal Love, from Pink Petal Books. Eternal Love is my first paranormal romance. Rhys Trevellian, a 935-year-old immortal, has been in love with the same woman since childhood. Unfortunately, she’s mortal, and has died and been reincarnated eight times since her first lifetime with Rhys. Each time she reincarnates, he has found her only to see her murdered by the Purists, a fanatic group of immortals.

When Rhys meets Gwen Davies, he immediately recognizes her as his love’s newest incarnation, and sets about earning her trust in the hope that this time, he’ll be able to transmute her to immortality so they can spend eternity together. But they’re forced to run, not only from the Purists but also from the immortal authorities who seek Rhys for murder and from Gwen’s abusive former fiancé.

Have you ever had an idea for a story which scared you after you began writing it?I have. It’s a short story I posted online but which I’ll never try to publish. Way too disturbing.

Have you incorporated actual events from your own life into your books?Occasionally, yes. In Pink Petal Books’s recent wedding promotion, my short story “Beginning Again” pretty much exactly detailed my own wedding ceremony. Some comments, bits of dialogue, and even *whispers* sex stuff in each of my stories has basis in reality, though it’s usually just a snippet here and there, not an entire event.

How much research do you do? Do you research first and then write, or do you write first, then research as needed?I don’t research if I can help it. Hate researching. I’d rather be writing. So I usually try to choose plots that won’t require research (for example, I’ll never, ever write a historical), and if I need to look up something minor, I do a quick web search as I’m writing.

Is there any message you want readers to take from reading your work?No matter what’s happened in your past, it’s the present that’s important.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? And have you ever had a story take on a life of its own?Mostly a pantster. I get an idea for a story and may write down a sentence or two so I remember what I’m writing, then I just run with it. Occasionally I need to do a little more brainstorming than that, though. For example, with Eternal Love, I had to make some pretty extensive notes because there were a lot of plot points and traveling within the story, and I had to keep them all straight. My stories often take on a life of their own, though, even if I do make notes about them, and I usually go along with it. Sometimes the characters have better ideas than I do.

How long did it take for you to be published?You mean from the time I started writing? That would be about 26 years… I started writing when I was five. Started submitting things when I was 16, so it would have been 15 years from there. I got my first contract when I was 31, for a phonics-based reading program I wrote.

If you could go back and tell yourself anything when you first began your writing career, what would you say?Again, that depends on what we consider the start of my writing career. If we say I started my career when I was five (by which time I knew I wanted to have my stories in books), I’d just tell myself to keep working at it.

Laptop or pen and ink? What are your ‘must-haves’ when writing?My desktop computer. I don’t own a laptop. I have a netbook, but the screen and keyboard are too small for me to really get into the flow of writing.

Who are your favorite authors? Who would you say influenced you the most?I can’t answer that… I like a variety of authors, and really can’t pinpoint any particular one as my favorite. For influence, I’d have to say Lex Valentine. She took me aside when I started the e-publication journey in early 2009 and gave me a few truths about the industry and where I should aim with my talent.

What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?In spring of 2005, I reached a weight of 150 pounds after starting in July 2004 at 250 pounds.(Molly's jaw hits the floor) That's AWESOME! I need that kind of willpower:)

For Fun:Favorite Fourth of July tradition?It’s a new one, just started last year. My husband works for a marine assistance company in Boston, and is allowed to bring us out onto the Charles River so we can watch the Boston fireworks and listen to the Pops.That's sooo cool! I watch the Pops every year on TV, but I bet it's even better in person!

Mountains or Beach?Beach.

Favorite amusement park ride?None.

Any Summer Festivals you like to attend?No.

If you’re writing a Christmas-themed story, how do you get ‘in the mood’?I don’t, really. If I write a Christmas-themed story, it’s usually because I start writing a story and then discover accidentally that it takes place at Christmas time.

Blurb:For over 900 years, immortal Rhys Trevellian has been in love with the soul of the same woman—his childhood love Gwen. Unfortunately, Gwen is mortal, and Rhys is unable to keep her with him. When he meets Gwen Davies in a coffee shop in his newest hometown, he immediately recognizes his lost love.Gwen Davies has had a rough life, most recently having to run from her hometown to a small town in Maine to escape her abusive ex. In Rhys Trevellian, she recognizes something that strikes a chord in her. Although she has no memory of the lifetimes he claims she’s shared with him, she knows he’s her true match.To remain together forever, Rhys and Gwen must escape those who seek to murder Gwen before Rhys can transmute her to immortality, and those who seek to execute Rhys for crimes he didn’t commit.

Excerpt (not final version) Gwen and Rhys each visited the bathroom to wash their faces and clean their mouths, though they couldn’t brush their teeth since Rhys had left everything in the car. Once they both had returned to the bedroom, Rhys stripped off his shirt and pants, and watched as Gwen did the same. She was so beautiful, her movements so graceful. His cock twitched at the sight. Despite his fatigue, he wanted her badly. After so many centuries, he couldn’t have enough of her.She needed rest, though, and he would let her have it. They would have other times to make love. Sleep was more important.

Apparently, she had other ideas. Wearing only her panties, she walked over to him and put her arms around his neck. “How tired are you?”

He grinned. “I could be persuaded to stay awake a bit longer.”

She glanced down at the front of his briefs, which bulged with his now-hard cock. “I don’t think it will take much persuasion.”

“Probably not.” He traced the curve of her jaw lightly with his thumb. “Are you sure you aren’t too tired?”

“I need to feel you,” she whispered.

He held his arms outstretched. “Then I am all yours.”

She knelt in front of him and pulled down his underwear to let his cock free. She ran her finger down his shaft then cupped his balls. “I want this,” she purred lustfully.

“I said I’m all yours,” he said hoarsely, shivering at her touch. “Do whatever you want. Tell me what you want me to do.”

She tilted her head to one side and looked up at him through her eyelashes. “I want you to stand here until I’m done, then I want you to fuck me,” she commanded. “I know it’s still making love, because we love each other. Tonight, though, I just want to be fucked. I want to wipe everything out of my mind and just feel you.”

Her words filled with desperation, stabbing Rhys through the core. Because of the need to run, he’d been so selfish with her. Rather than trying to help her process what had happened, he’d acted as though nothing much had. He should have made her talk to him rather than letting her suppress everything. Now her mind had overloaded.

He stroked her hair. “Gwen, I can’t help you forget,” he said softly.

“For a little while you can,” she pleaded. “Rhys, I love you and I want to be with you now. I don’t want to forget it all forever, just for now. Just long enough that I can sleep without dreams. Please.” She paused. “I need to forget, and I need to know that we’ll always be together. I want you to transmute me.”

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About Me

I've been writing since age 11, and wrote my first romance novel at age 19. I finally had the guts to seek publication for my series in 2002, much to the delight of everyone who's read my work and demanded to know why I wasn't published yet!